To improve the health of Pacific peoples in New Zealand and reduce health disparities, it is essential to build the capacity and capability of the Pacific public health workforce and increase the responsiveness of the non-Pacific public health workforce to Pacific public health need.

Public health, and its capability to address the determinants of health, is key to improving the health status of Pacific peoples, who suffer from higher incidence rates of chronic diseases such as ischaemic heart disease, stroke, diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease than other groups (Counties Manukau DHB (2005) Counties Manukau population health indicators (3^rd edition) South Auckland Counties Manukau).  

Te Uru Kahikatea: The Public Health Workforce Development Plan (2007 - 2016) (PH WDP) is the national guide to public health workforce development in New Zealand. The PH WDP contains a specific overarching objective and actions to further Pacific public health workforce development. See link above for "Pacific PH Priority Work Areas".